Shrub suggestions please

[wowfudge]

We moved recently and there is a bed in the lawn at our new place - visible from the living room - which contains something woody which has been cut down and appears to be dead and some weeds.

I'm looking for suggestions for an attractive shrub to replace the dead thing with. If evergreen it needs to provide year round interest with flowers, etc. I have been thinking of a magnolia or choisya or possibly a purple smoke bush as I loved the one we had in our last garden.

[traviata]

viburnum
hydrangea

or a large grass, eg stipa gigantea?

[traviata]

a small tree?
eg corkscrew hazel
cercis canadensis

[traviata]

weeping pear

[JT05]

Amelanchier is a lovely shrub. Pretty white flowers in spring, fresh green leaves, then in the Autumn bright red leaves and berries. Sometimes known as Snowy Mespilus.

[wowfudge]

Thank you traviata - viburnum is a good call. There are already several hydrangeas in the garden so I'd prefer something different. I don't think the oat grass would work - could do elsewhere though.

[wowfudge]

Weeping pear or amelanchier would both look great. Thank you both.

[Kr1stina]

Many magnolias like acid soil and they are deciduous and not very interesting except when in flower. Choisya is better as lovely evergreen glossy foliage and pretty white flowers .

Cotinus are lovely but slow growing and deciduous .

We really need to know soil type , aspect, size of space and what's beside it ( you want a contrast in form and colour )

[wowfudge]

Thanks - pretty sure the soil is acidic as there are some very well established rhododendrons and azaleas around the lawn and beside the drive. There's also a lot of laurel. Next door have a lovely magnolia stellata in their back garden.

There are large shrubs sheltering the lawn, some very large, backed by mature trees - a mix of deciduous and evergreen.

We are quite high up so it's slightly colder than lower lying places in the area. The lawn is west facing.

I like the three shrubs I suggested - I particularly loved the watching the cotinus change through the seasons at our old house, however it's always good to get suggestions of things you hadn't thought or just don't know.

[Kr1stina]

I have a magnolia Stellata and it copes well in my wet and exposed garden, so does M. Leonard Messell. They look lovely for 2-3 weeks a year and boring for the rest . I have a viticella clematis growing up one of them to give some more interests.

I wouldn't plant it as a feature tree TBH. Amelanchier is a prettier shape , had flowers and autumn colour . Ditto a small sorbus.

If you like weeping trees , the pyrus mentioned upthread woudl be great and it's tough

Some viburnums grow in an attractive layered shape and also cornus controversa Variegata ( slow growing so expensive )

Acers are beautiful if you have enough shelter from cold winds and hot sun

[Kr1stina]

Cotinus Grace is supposed to be tougher than C. RoYal Purple . I have planted one but as its only about half a meter tall it's to early to tell how it will do.

[wowfudge]

Just realised I meant east facing - was looking at a plan where north was down, not up!

Thanks for those suggestions.